U.S. patent number 5,023,020 [Application Number 07/494,853] was granted by the patent office on 1991-06-11 for method for supplying aromas, apparatus therefore and facilities provided with same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Michiaki Asano, Motoyuki Iwahashi, Koshin Kikuchi, Hiroji Machida, Hiroshi Satoh, Tomoya Tokuhiro, Hiroaki Watanabe, Yozo Watanabe, Norihiro Yamaguchi.
United States Patent |
5,023,020 |
Machida , et al. |
June 11, 1991 |
Method for supplying aromas, apparatus therefore and facilities
provided with same
Abstract
A method for supplying aromas to a space includes the steps of
retaining a plurality of aromatic materials in respective
reservoirs, selecting at least one of the aromatic materials
according to a predetermined timetable determined on the basis of
activities of people in the space at each time, diffusing a
predetermined amount of the selected aromatic material in air to
obtain aromatized air, and sending the aromatized air into the
space. The apparatus for supplying aromas includes a receptor
having plural aromas, a controller for controlling the receptor to
select one stated aroma from the plural aromas in the receptor
according to an influence on people by the stated aroma at a stated
time in a day, and a ventilator for supplying an air containing the
stated aroma. A facility provided with an apparatus for supplying
aromas includes plural zones with each being provided with the
apparatus, and plural routes for connecting the zones to each
other.
Inventors: |
Machida; Hiroji (Tokyo,
JP), Asano; Michiaki (Tokyo, JP), Watanabe;
Yozo (Tokyo, JP), Tokuhiro; Tomoya (Tokyo,
JP), Satoh; Hiroshi (Tokyo, JP), Iwahashi;
Motoyuki (Tokyo, JP), Yamaguchi; Norihiro (Tokyo,
JP), Kikuchi; Koshin (Tokyo, JP), Watanabe;
Hiroaki (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
26475771 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/494,853 |
Filed: |
March 14, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
204373 |
Jun 9, 1988 |
|
|
|
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Jun 10, 1987 [JP] |
|
|
62-144334 |
Nov 10, 1987 [JP] |
|
|
62-283629 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
261/18.1;
239/305; 261/30; 261/DIG.48; 261/DIG.65; 261/DIG.88; 422/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61L
9/122 (20130101); B60H 3/0035 (20130101); F24F
3/12 (20130101); Y10S 261/88 (20130101); Y10S
261/65 (20130101); Y10S 261/48 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61L
9/12 (20060101); F24F 3/12 (20060101); B01F
003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;261/30,DIG.48,DIG.65,18.1 ;239/305 ;422/124,20 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
535375 |
|
Nov 1980 |
|
AU |
|
0004039 |
|
Sep 1979 |
|
EP |
|
0123746 |
|
Jul 1984 |
|
EP |
|
0144992 |
|
Jun 1985 |
|
EP |
|
2573283 |
|
May 1986 |
|
FR |
|
Other References
American Heritage Dictionary, Apr. 1982, p. 1266..
|
Primary Examiner: Miles; Tim
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Cushman, Darby & Cushman
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application No. 07/204,373, filed June 9,
1988, which was abandoned upon the filing hereof.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A facility comprising:
plural zones;
plural routes connecting said zones with each other; and
apparatus in each zone for supplying aromas thereto comprising: a
receptor having plural aromas, a controller for controlling said
receptor to select one stated aroma from said plural aromas in said
receptor according to an influence on people by said stated aroma
at a stated time in a day, and a ventilator connected to said
receptor for supplying air containing said stated aroma to the
corresponding zone.
2. An apparatus for supplying aromas comprising:
a cylindrical receptor having plural containers for receiving
aromas, each of said containers being defined by a peripheral wall
and plural walls extending radially from a center thereof to said
peripheral wall and having an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture
for passing air therethrough, a ventilator for supplying air to the
container where a selected aroma is received to obtain an air
containing aroma, drive means having a drive shaft for rotating
said receptor about an axis thereof so as to move a stated
container to a stated position for passage of air therethrough, air
passage means for interconnecting said receptor and said
ventilator, and a controller for controlling said receptor to
adjust the amount of one stated aroma from the plural aromas in
said receptor according to an influence on people by the stated
aroma at a stated time in a day.
3. A facility provided with plural apparatus for supplying aromas
according to claim 2, the facility including plural zones each
being provided with at least one of said apparatus, and plural
routes for interconnecting said zones with each other.
4. A facility according to claim 3, further comprising a building
in which all of said zones are disposed.
5. A facility according to claim 3, further comprising plural
building, and at least one zone is disposed in each building.
6. A facility according to claim 3, further comprising an
interceptor in each route for preventing air in said zones from
free communication between said zones, said interceptor including
double doors extending transversely of the respective route, a
vacuum pump for exhausting the air in the space defined between
said double doors to the exterior of said facility, and a
controller for controlling opening and closing of said double doors
so as to close one of said double doors when the other is
opened.
7. A facility according to claim 3, wherein said zones are
circularly arranged and communicated to each other through said
routes so as to be passable in a counterclockwise direction.
8. A facility according to claim 3 including an interceptor in each
route for preventing air in said zones from free communication
between said zones comprising means for providing an air curtain
transversely across each route.
9. An apparatus for supplying aromas according to claim 2, wherein
said receptor includes a cylindrical vessel, a circular plate in
said vessel having plural apertures opened at regular intervals at
the marginal portion along the peripheral edge of said plate,
plural cylindrical cassettes having opposite ends for retaining
plural aroma-carriers therein, each of said cassettes being housed
in a respective aperture in said plate, and a pair of screen sheets
having plural perforations for covering the opposite ends of the
cassettes while permitting the passing of air therethrough.
10. An apparatus for supplying aromas according to claim 9, wherein
the aroma-carriers are beads having aromas adhered to the surfaces
thereof.
11. An apparatus for supplying aromas according to claim 9, wherein
the aroma-carriers are sponges containing liquid aroma therein.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for supplying aromas and an
apparatus therefore which can be utilized on occasions where the
aromas are supplied to various facilities such as homes for the
old, hospitals, offices, buildings, stations, houses, or the like,
or into various vehicles such as trains, subways, motor cars,
airplanes, or the like. Further, this invention relates to
facilities provided with the apparatus above.
2. Prior Art
Recently, aromas are becoming the object of public attention as
ways for enriching life. Examples of methods for supplying the
aromas to such rooms as sitting rooms, toilets and the like include
a method using a box-type aromatic which can be put on the table,
etc. In the method, the aromas are used for masking odors or smells
which are caused by odorants such as cigarettes, cigars, ordures
and the like. The stronger the aroma is the more preferable the
aromatic is for masking the odor.
Some aroma are known to have substantial physiological effects. For
instance, some aroma diffused by lemon have stimulant effects or
act as cures for drowsiness because they excite people mentally,
and moreover they activate the people circulatory system. Also,
some aroma diffused by lavender have effects of relieving stress,
anxiety, or the like, and further have antidepressive effects
because they relax tension. Further some aroma diffused by rosemary
and the like have orexigenic and relaxative effects. In addition,
"phytoncide", which means aromas or compounds diffused by trees or
woods, are known to have effects of sterilization against harmful
bacteria or virus, and therefore have effects of restoration of
good health to people.
In conventional methods, such aromas are utilized without availing
of their effects on people mentally, unfortunately.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
method for supplying aromas so as to make use of the valuable
physiological effects of the aromas.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus
which is adequate to carry out effectively the method for supplying
aromas of this invention.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a facility
which has the apparatus for supplying aromas of this invention so
as to define spaces which are adequate to obtain a physical or
mental health effect.
According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a
method for supplying aromas comprising the steps of;
(a) retaining a plurality of aromatic material separately in
respective reservoirs;
(b) selecting at least one of the aromatic materials according to a
predetermined timetable determined on the basis of activities of
people in the space at each time;
(c) diffusing a predetermined amount of the selected aromatic
material in air to obtain aromatized air; and
(d) sending forth the aromatized air into the space.
Many investigations have been made concerning influences by aroma,
and thereby many acknowledgments are made as follows.
(1) Aromatic materials having a stimulant activity include
essential oils such as Japanese mint oil, eucalyptus oil, lemon
oil, citronella oil, salvia oil, thyme oil, clove oil, rosemary
oil, and the like, extracts such as onions, garlic, and the like,
acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, ethers such as ethyl
formate, propyl formate, ethyl acetate, normal propyl acetate,
buthyl acetate, heptyl acetate, nonyl acetate, menthyl acetate,
isomenthyl acetate, amyl nitrite, trimethylcyclohexanol, allyl
sulfide, and the like.
(2) Aromatic materials having an hypnotic activity include
essential oils such as jasmine oil, camomile oil, neroli oil, and
the like, alcohols such as nonyl alcohol, decyl alcohol,
phenylethyl alcohol, and the like, and ethers such as methyl
carbonate, ethyl carbonate, and the like.
(3) Aromatic materials, which have an appetite-depressing activity,
include essential oils such as armoise oil, rosemary oil,
eucalyptus oil, and the like, compounds such as ethylphenyl
acetate, guaiacol, indole, cresol, thiophenol, p-dichlorobenzen,
p-methylquinoline, isoquinoline, pyridine, organic amines, camphor,
mercaptan, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and the like.
(4) Aromatic materials, which have an appetite-stimulating
activity, include essential oils such as perilla oil, marjoram oil,
thyme oil, laurel oil, juniperus oil, lemon oil, nutmeg oil, ginger
oil, onion oil, garlic oil, and the like, and compounds such as
l-carvone, estragon oil, elemi oil, and the like.
(5) Aromatic materials, which have antidepressive activities or
activities of relieving anxiety, include essential oils such as
lavender oil, bergamot oil, lemon oil, marjoram oil, rosemary oil,
peppermint oil, rose oil, jasmine oil, nutmeg oil, cinnamon oil,
clove oil, ginger oil, and compounds such as citral, citronellal,
borneol, linalol, geraniol, nerol, rhodinol, and the like.
According to a second aspect of this invention, there is provided
an apparatus for supplying aromas, the apparatus comprising a
receptor having plural aromas, a controller for controlling the
receptor to select one stated aroma from the plural aromas in said
receptor according to an influence on people by the stated aroma at
a stated time in a day, and a ventilator for supplying an air
containing the stated aroma.
According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a
facility provided with the apparatus for supplying aromas of the
present invention, the facility including plural zones each being
provided with the apparatus, and plural routes for connecting the
zones each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of the apparatus for
supplying aromas of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of an embodiment of the apparatus
for supplying aromas of the present invention, with parts broken
away;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an example of the receptor having the
apparatus of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of another example of the receptor as
shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of a cassette having an
aroma used in the receptor of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another example of a cassette for
use in the receptor of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the receptor of FIG. 4, showing a cassette
thereof in its opened position;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but showing the cassette in its
half-opened position;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the experimental results where aromas
are diffused in a room while alternating the types of the aromas
and the concentration thereof in the air;
FIG. 10 is a graph showing the relation between the time and the
concentration of the aromas in the experimental results of FIG.
9;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the facility for
recuperation of the present invention, provided with the apparatus
of FIG. 2;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane, showing a
zone for health in part of the facility of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane, showing an
apparatus for supplying aromas disposed within a bath of the zone
for health of FIG. 11;
FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane, showing
another apparatus for supplying aromas disposed within a zone for
relaxation and beauty in the facility of FIG. 11;
FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane, showing an
interceptor provided with double doors in the facility of the
invention;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on a vertical plane, showing
another interceptor in the facility of the invention; and
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an apparatus for supplying
aromas of the invention which is disposed under a sidewalk.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a diagram of an
embodiment of the apparatus for supplying aromas of the present
invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus for supplying
aromas to a zone (not shown) in which the apparatus is disposed,
and the apparatus comprises a receptor 10 having six reservoirs or
containers 11-16 which are respectively filled with a liquid aroma,
a controller 20 for controlling the receptor 10 to thereby select
only a stated container from the six containers so as to diffuse
only one aroma, and a ventilator (not shown) for supplying air
containing the aroma or aromatized air to the zone. In this case,
the receptor 10 retains six different aromas in the containers
11-16 thereof. The amount of the aroma supplied to the zone is
adjusted to a predetermined value by the controller 20. Such
controller 20 is connected with a timer 30 in order that the
controller 20 controls the receptor 10 according to a timetable.
The timetable is predetermined according to a data where a stated
aroma influences people, or a data where the influence by the
stated aroma peaks at the stated time of day.
The controller 20 is connected with an exchanger 40 for exchanging
heat with air which is discharged from the zone through an air
filter 50, and is connected with a humidifier 60 for humidifying
the dry air flowing from the exchanger 40. The air filter 50
provides deodorants such as activated charcoals and the like in
order to remove odors from the air discharged from the zone. Also,
the humidifier 60 is connected with the zone, and therefore the air
discharged from the zone returns to the zone after circulating
through the zone, the air filter 50, the exchanger 40, and the
humidifier 60. In the air circuit, the passage between the zone and
the air filter 50 is connected with a passage out of the receptor
10.
In thus described apparatus 1, a predetermined aroma is selected
from the six aromas of the receptor 10 by opening the container
containing the selected aroma. Such selection of the aroma is
carried out on basis of the aforesaid influence thereof on people
at a predetermined time.
On the other hand, odor is removed from the air discharged from the
zone by the air filter 50. The air passed through the air filter 50
exchanges heat thereof by the exchanger 40, and is humidified by
the humidifier 60.
The thus-obtained air is mixed with the above selected aroma within
the passage between the zone and the humidifier 60, and the air
containing aroma returns to the zone by the aforesaid ventilator.
Therefore, the air in the zone becomes refreshed and comfortable
because it contains an aroma having a good influence on people at
the predetermined time.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated an embodiment of
the apparatus for supplying aroma as shown in FIG. 1. The apparatus
1 is housed in a housing 70 which can be disposed in the above
described zone. The housing 70 has a cubic shape, and has two
separate spaces or an upper space 71 and a lower space 72 which are
separated by a middle wall 73, and further has an upper window 74
and a lower window 75 which are respectively formed at the upper
and lower portion of the front face thereof.
In the upper space 71, the exchanger 40 and the humidifier 60 are
disposed at a corner defined by the middle wall 73 and a rear wall
of the housing 70. The air filter 50 is disposed on the peripheral
edge of the upper window 74. In this embodiment, the air filter 50
comprises a sheet-like prefilter 51 in contact with the peripheral
edge of the window 74 and a deodorant sheet 52 made of activated
charcoal which is fixedly secured to the face of the prefilter 51
directed away from the window 74.
In the lower space 72, a sirocco fan 80 is disposed beside the
lower window 75 on the bottom of the housing 70, and the receptor
10 is vertically disposed beside a rear wall of the housing 70. As
seen from FIG. 3, the receptor 10 comprises a cylindrical vessel 90
which includes a circular bottom 91, a peripheral wall 92 defined
along the peripheral edge of the bottom 91, and a central aperture
93 opened at the central portion of the bottom 91. A vertical shaft
100 is fixedly inserted in the central aperture 93 of the vessel
90. The vessel 90 has six containers defined by six walls extending
radially from the central aperture 93 to the inner face of the
peripheral wall 92, and further has six apertures 94 opened to
every container in order to link the container to the outer space
of the vessel 90. A circular sheet or a packing 95 is fixedly
secured to the upper portion of the vessel 90 so as to be coaxial
therewith, and a cylindrical covering 96 is loosely superposed on
the packing 95 on the upper portion thereof so as to be coaxial
therewith. The packing 95 has an aperture which is opened at the
central portion thereof in order that the shaft 100 is fixedly
inserted in the aperture, and further has six apertures 97 which
are opened at the peripheral portion thereof corresponding to the
six containers of the vessel 90. The covering 96 is larger in a
caliber than the vessel 90, and has a central aperture in order
that the shaft 100 is loosely inserted in the aperture. Such
covering 96 is connected with the humidifier 60 by a pipe 98.
Namely, one end of the pipe 98 extends through the middle wall 73
to the humidifier 60 placed in the upper space 71, and another end
thereof extends through the top wall of the covering 96 and the
apertures 97 of the packing 95 to the containers of the vessel 90.
In addition, one end of a pipe 99 extends through the peripheral
wall of the covering 96 and the aperture 97 of the vessel 90 to the
containers, and another end of the pipe 99 extends to the position
beside the plural fins of the aforesaid sirocco fan 80.
In the receptor 10, the vessel 90 and the packing 95 can be rotated
together about the shaft 100 by rotating the shaft 100 by an
actuator (not shown) such as a step motor and the like, without
rotating the covering 96. When the aroma 11 is selected from the
six aromas 11 to 16 in the receptor 10, the vessel 90 is rotated
until the pipe 98 is in fluid communication with the pipe 99
through the container providing the aroma 11.
In thus described apparatus 1, the air of the aforesaid zone is
introduced into the air filter 50 through the upper window 74, and
odors removed therefrom, the heat of the air is exchanged by the
exchanger 40, the air is humidified by the humidifier 60, and
further is sent to the receptor 10 through the pipe 98.
Subsequently, the air is introduced into the container for the
stated aroma through the aperture 97 of the packing 95 to thereby
be mixed with the predetermined aroma, and the thus obtained air
containing aroma or aromatized air is sent to the position beside
the sirocco fan 80 through the aperture 94 of the vessel 90 and the
pipe 99. Therefore, the aromatized air returns to the zone through
the lower window 75 by the fan 80.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is illustrated another preferred
example of the receptor of the apparatus of the present invention.
As seen from FIG. 4, the receptor 110 comprises a circular plate
111 having six circular apertures opening at regular intervals at
the marginal portion along the peripheral edge thereof, and six
aromatic cassettes 112 having a cylindrical shape which are
respectively housed in the apertures of the circular plate 111. The
receptor 110 has a central aperture opening at the central portion
thereof in order to fixedly insert the aforementioned shaft 100
therein. Also, the receptor 110 is interposed between an upper mask
120 and a lower mask 121 which are fixedly superposed on each
other. Two masks 120 and 121 have a substantially hemispherical
shape together, and further have respectively a central aperture
opening at the central portion thereof in order to receive loosely
the shaft 100 therein. A pipe 122 is a member for introducing air
into the receptor 110. One end of the pipe 122 is fixedly secured
to the curved wall of the upper mask 120, and another end thereof
is connected with the above described humidifier 60. Also, a pipe
123 is a member for discharging air from the receptor 110, and one
end of the pipe 123 is fixedly secured to the curved wall of the
lower mask 121, and another end thereof is extended to the position
beside the sirocco fan 80. Further the pipe 123 is fluid
communication with the pipe 122 through the cassette 112 in a
circular plate 111.
As seen in FIG. 5, plural beads 113 having the aroma adhered to the
faces thereof are housed in the cassette 112, and are retained in
the cassette 112 by a pair of screen sheets 114 which are disposed
on the opposite ends of the cassette 112.
In the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 4 and 5, one stated aroma is selected
from the six aromas. Namely, the circular plate 111 is rotated
through the shaft 100 by the above described actuator until the
predetermined cassette 112 is interposed between the pipe 122 and
123. When the predetermined cassette 112 is interposed between the
pipes 122 and 123, the air discharged from the humidifier 60 is
introduced into the cassette 112 through the pipe 122 and the upper
mask 120. The air is mixed with the aroma of the predetermined
cassette 112, and the air containing the selected aroma or
aromatized air is sent to the position beside the sirocco fan 80
through the pipe 123. Therefore, the aromatized air returns to the
zone through the lower window 75 by the fan 80.
As seen from FIG. 6, a cylindrical sponge 130 containing the liquid
aroma 131 may be housed in the cassette 112 instead of the beads
113.
In the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 4 and 5, or 6, the content of the aroma
supplied to the zone can be controlled by adjusting the area of the
cross-sectional portion on which one end of the pipe 122 and one
end of the pipe 123 are superposed on each other through the
cassette 112. Namely, when the content is increased to the maximum
level, both the pipes 122 and 123 are completely superposed on each
other as shown in FIG. 7. Also, when the content is decreased lower
than the maximum level, the pipes 122 and 123 are partially
superposed on each other as shown in FIG. 8.
As for the apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, the apparatus 1
may be placed in houses or offices as the aforesaid zone. In this
case, the apparatus 1 can be controlled depending on the program
which produces a desirable model of life as shown in FIG. 9, so
that the kind of aroma is changed when the predetermined time is
passed. As seen from FIG. 9, at home, the aroma diffused by lemon
is selected as aromatic material at a wake-up time in the morning,
and the aroma diffused by rosemary is selected at a breakfast time.
In office, an aroma is selected from the group consisting of aromas
diffused by lemon, lavender and mint at an interval of an hour in
rotation while working. At home, the aroma diffused by lavender is
selected before sleeping. Thus, The aroma is determined on the
basis of acitvities of people in the space or zone.
In addition, the concentration of the aroma diffused in the zone is
preferably controlled by a manner as shown in FIG. 10. According to
the manner illustrated in FIG. 10, concentration of the aroma is
ordinarily controlled so as to be at the minimum detectable level
of human sensing. However, after the aroma is changed, or after the
preset time is passed, the concentration thereof becomes preferably
beyond the threshold value by increasing the content of the aroma
supplied for a short time. As the result of controlling the
concentration, the presence of the aroma can be made aware, and
further mental or physical effects, on which the aroma has
influences, can be elevated to a high level.
FIGS. 11 to 15 show an embodiment of a facility of the present
invention. Reference numeral 200 denotes a facility comprising a
zone for health 210, a zone for relaxation and beauty 220 provided
with the apparatus 1, a zone for heart 230 provided with the
apparatus 1, and a hall 240. The zones 210, 220, and 230, and the
hall 240 are constructed on grounds 250, and are connected with
plural routes 260 each other as shown in FIG. 11. A "car-park" 270
having trees and flowers is landscaped on the grounds 250 spreading
around the zones 210, 220, and 230, and the hall 240.
The zone for health 210 has a hex cross section in a horizontal
direction. A booth 211 for selling essential oils used before the
bath, or after the bath, eau de cologne, powders for the bath,
waters for drinking, and the like is disposed in the central
portion of the zone for health 210, and a dressing room 212 is
disposed around the booth 211. Further two bath rooms 213 for male
and female are disposed in the portion around both the booth 211
and the dressing room 212 as shown in FIG. 12.
The bath room 213 has a big bath 213a filled with water for spa
such as weak-alkaline water etc., a perfumed bath 213b, a small
bath 213c filled with essential oils, a small bath 213d for a
thalasso-therapy, and a perfumed shower bath 213e.
Essential oils extracted from natural materials such as orange,
lemon, bergamot, lavender, rosemary, basil, peppermint, camphor,
eucalyptus, citron, plum, and the like, or fragrances such as
menthol, cineole and the like, or a combination thereof are used as
aromatic materials in the perfumed bath 213b. The perfumes such as
essential oils and the like are, if necessary, mixed with a surface
active agent in order to be water-soluble. The perfumed bath 213b
can mentally excite the guests or users with olfactory sense to
thereby elevate their feelings.
The perfumed bath 213b may be used as a bubble bath as shown in
FIG. 13. In this case, a bubbler 213f for supplying the bubbles
into the tub is located by the perfumed bath 213b, and they are
connected by a pipe 213g. An aperture 213h is opened at the portion
of the peripheral wall of the tub where one end of the pipe 213g is
adhered, and a holder 213i is fixedly disposed on the marginal
portion along the aperture 213h. A cassette 213j for supplying the
perfume to the hot water in the tub is housed in the holder 213i.
In the perfumed bath 213b, the perfume is introduced into the tub
by the influence of the bubbles, so that the perfume is diffused
into the zone for health 210 from the surface of the water of the
tub. Also, water overflowing the tub is received by a pipe 213k,
and returned to the tub after filtration.
The small bath 213c filled with aromatic materials such as
essential oils which can stimulate directly the skin of the user
thanks to the materials to thereby recuperate the user. Also, the
essential oils used in the bath 213c may be applied to all or a
part of the body of the user before bathing. In the bath 213c, only
the essential oils used are recovered from the water overflowing
the tub in such a manner such as in the aforesaid perfumed bath
213b.
The water used in the small bath 213d for the thalasso-therapy
includes at least components of sea and extracts of seaweeds or
marine plants, and therefore the bath 213d can promote the
metabolism of the user, or elevate the effects of keeping warm
because minerals such as iodide etc., are dissolved in the water of
the bath.
The perfume used in the perfumed bath 213b can dissolved in the
water of the perfumed shower bath 213e.
The peripheral wall of the zone for health 210 is made of
transparent glasses, and a flower bed (not shown) is landscaped in
the car-park 270 spreading around the zone 210, and therefore the
flower bed can be looked at through the transparent wall of the
zone 210. For instance, when lavender flowers are landscaped in the
flower bed, and the perfume of lavender is premeated in the zone
210, the product of the olfactory sense is multiplied by the visual
sensation.
Further a big screen (not shown) may be disposed in the car-park
270 instead of the flower bed. In this case, the images such as
woods, flowers, scenery, and the like relating to the perfume
permeated in the zone 210 are projected on the big screen.
The aforesaid apparatus 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is disposed in the zone
220 for relaxation and beauty. Such zone 220 is preferably filled
with the predetermined aroma at the predetermined time a day owing
to the apparatus 1 controlled depending on the time schedule as
shown in FIG. 9, and the like.
As seen from FIG. 14, an air conditioner 300 including a
conditioner body 300a, a duct 300b for introducing a fresh or a
refreshed air into the aforesaid zone 220, a cassette 300c for
diffusing the aroma with the air, and a holder 300d for receiving
the cassette 300c is preferably used for supplying the aroma to the
zone 220. Especially, essential oils such as jasmine oil, camomile
oil, neroli oil, etc., alcohols such as nonyl alcohol, decyl
alcohol, phenylethyl alcohol, etc., and ethers such as methyl
carbonate, ethyl carbonate, etc., can refresh after a bath, and
have aesthetic effects, and therefore they are preferably used as
the aroma in the cassette 300c. In the zone 220, an aroma-therapy
using the aroma may be carried out, and further an acoustic-therapy
may be carried out with aroma considering the product of music is
multiplied by the aroma. In addition, other facilities (not shown)
such as a resting room, a cafeteria, an aesthetic saloon, a beauty
saloon, a boutique and the like may be disposed in the zone
220.
Also, the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is disposed in the zone for
heart 230. A plurality of aromatic materials used in the zone 230
include essential oils such as lavender, bergamot, marjoram, lemon,
rosemary, sage, peppermint, basil, rose, jasmine, nutmeg, cinnamon,
clove, ginger, etc., and compounds such as citral, citronellal,
borneol, linalol, geraniol, rhodinol, nerol, etc. The zone 230 is a
space for refreshing mentally, and therefore may have other
facilities (not shown) such as a meditation room, a museum for
aroma, and the like. Further the air conditioner 300 of FIG. 14 can
of course be used in the zone 230.
The hall 240 is a terminal or an entrance and exit for the zones
210, 220 and 230. Plural facilities (not shown) such as an
information counter, a locker room, cafeteria, a natural food
restrant, and the like may be disposed in the hall 240.
Plural routes 260 for linking the aforesaid zones 210, 220 and 230,
and the hall 240 with each other have respectively at least an
interceptor 310 for preventing ventilating between the facilities.
As seen in FIG. 15, the interceptor 310 comprises double doors 310a
for closing off an inner space in the routes 260, and a vacuum pump
310b for discharging the air in the space defined between the
double doors 310a. The double doors 310a are not opened at the same
time. Namely, when one of the door 310a is opened, another door
310a is shut. When the doors 310a are shut together, the vacuum
pump 310b is turned on. Such pump 310b has an air filter 310c for
filtering the air discharged from the space between the odors 310a,
and thereby the air refreshed by the filter 310c is sent to the
outer facilities.
Also, as seen in FIG. 16, the interceptor 310 may be air curtain
comprising a blower 310d for sending the air from the ceiling of
the route 260 to the floor thereof, and a vacuum pump 310e for
discharging the air sent from the blower 310d to the outer
facilities. The pump 310e also has an air filter 310f for filtering
the air to thereby obtain refreshed air.
Further the apparatus 1 of FIGS. 2 and 3 is disposed in the
car-park 270 as shown in FIG. 17. Namely, the apparatus 1 is
disposed under a sidewalk 320. A window 320a for introducing the
air into the apparatus 1 can be disposed at the side of the
sidewalk 320, and a window 320b for discharging the aromatized air
can be disposed at the top wall thereof. In this case, the aroma of
the air discharged by the apparatus 1 is preferably the phytoncide
diffused from the trees, or the artificial aroma thereof.
The above described facilities for recuperation of the present
invention can be used by a method of using them comprising the
steps of checking in at the information counter, bathing in the
plural baths of the health zone 210 to thereby refresh and warm up,
cooling down at the relaxation and beauty zone 220, meditating at
the heart zone 230, and coming back to the hall 240. When the
facilities and the routes are arranged so as to be in a circular
layout, the tour of the circle preferably is in a counterclockwise
direction because the heart is at the left-side of the body
thereof.
In the abovementioned facilities, although one zone is disposed in
each building, all of the zones may be disposed in one
building.
In addition, the aromatic materials supplied to such zones may be
diffused by emmitting supersonic waves thereon.
* * * * *